Workers under the aegis of the Support Staff Union of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) have threatened to shut down operations at the refinery over seven months of unpaid salaries.
The workers also alleged failure to implement a newly approved salary structure, saying if the demands are not addressed within 48 hours, they will shut down operations at the Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers state.
Barricading the entrance of the PHRC, the protesting workers displayed placards with various inscriptions and mounted tents in front of the refinery gate, temporarily disrupting activities at the complex.
Some of the placards read: “No more empty promises, January 2027 is too far to implement new salary structure,” “Refinery Coordinator must go,” and “Approved by GCEO on 1st October, rejected by RC. Support Staff demands that RC must go”.
The workers alleged that Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, had approved a new salary structure and remuneration package for support staff, but the refinery coordinator (RC) had yet to implement the directive.
They described the protest as a peaceful demonstration against what they called “injustice” and “marginalisation”.
The workers listed four demands, including the immediate implementation of the approved salary structure, payment of seven months’ salary arrears, approval of a N1 million housing and rent relief package, and better engagement between management and labour representatives on workers’ welfare.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, Bennett Isy, chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, questioned why a directive approved by the NNPC leadership had not been implemented.
“You cannot tell us that the GCEO of the NNPC approved something and the RC will say no. That is insubordination,” Isy said.
“We know the forces that are backing the RC, and because of that, we are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call the RC to order.”
‘WORKERS ARE SUBJECTED TO INTIMIDATION’
He alleged that workers were being subjected to “intimidation,” adding that the union would remain firm on its demands.
“We are saying that we are not backing down. We are following all due process to ensure that what rightly belongs to us gets to us. But if it is not implemented in the next 48 hours, to God, we are going to shut down this refinery,” Isy said.
“Not one soul will gain access to these premises. That I assure you.”
Joy Osueiya, one of the protesting workers, said employees had rejected a proposal to postpone implementation of the salary structure until January 2027.
“When the RC visited the last time, he said we should wait until January 2027, and we are here to say no. January 2027 is too late,” she said.
“Why will the GCEO approve something to be implemented for us on October 1, and the RC will say no? We object to it.”
Osueiya also spoke about the challenges faced by workers, alleging that some employees had developed health complications and suffered injuries in the workplace.
“A lot of us have lost loved ones in this refinery. Some of our men cannot even impregnate their wives again. Some of our colleagues have lost their lives here,” she said.
“Some have lost their arms because of how hazardous the place is. So we are here to say no. Enough is enough. Implement it now.”
Another worker, Godspower Nwakanji, appealed to Tinubu to intervene in the dispute, citing the economic difficulties faced by employees.
